Schalke 04 Esports Sells LEC Slot to Team BDS for €26.5 Million
Today marks the close of the second-largest League of Legends esports franchise sale in Western history as Schalke 04 Esports announces the sale of its LEC slot to Team BDS for €26.5 million ($31.54 million). This move comes as Schalke faces financial difficulties due to its poor results in the Bundesliga and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a significant debt to repay, the sale of the LEC slot became the club’s best option to recover financially.
A Long and Intensive Sales Process
Schalke had been exploring the sale of its LEC slot since last summer. The club, along with Riot Games, carefully examined numerous applicants to ensure a good fit for the league. After narrowing down the applicants, Team BDS emerged as the successful buyer after six months of negotiations.
Struggling to Stay Afloat
Schalke tried to find alternative solutions to generate revenue without selling its LEC slot outright. In April, it sold mid laner Abbedagge’s contract to 100 Thieves for $1 million. The club also explored strategic partnerships but ultimately realized that selling the slot was the only viable option.
Team BDS: A New Challenger in the LEC
Team BDS, a Swiss organization that entered the League of Legends scene in May 2020, acquired the La Ligue Française slot from Bastille Legacy. This sale makes it the second-largest Western League franchise sale in history, following Echo Fox’s sale to Evil Geniuses in 2019. The Schalke-BDS deal signals the German club’s partial exit from the League, as it plans to keep its Academy team in the Prime League to nurture talent at the semi-pro level. The future of Schalke’s staff remains uncertain, but BDS has expressed interest in recruiting members of the Schalke staff.
With this sale, the LEC will welcome a new team in 2022. Stay tuned for more esports news and analysis on our YouTube channel.
Related keywords: esports, League of Legends, LEC, Schalke 04 Esports, Team BDS, franchise sale, Western history, financial difficulties